The Lens is the City’s newsletter to expand conversations on engagement, access, and belonging.
Stop by Commission Table at Party in the Park – July 16
Representatives from the Human Rights Commission will be tabling at Party in the Park at Mercer starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16. Please stop by, say hello, and learn more about the Commission's work. Plus, pick up some cool swag while you’re there! To stay informed about more free community events like this one, be sure to visit the Parks and Recreation page for the latest updates.
Proclamation spotlight
This spring and summer, Mayor Teague has issued proclamations recognizing, celebrating, and commemorating the contributions of Iowa City’s diverse residents. A few examples are highlighted below.
Arab American Heritage Month, April 21, 2026
(L to R) Yaman, Sanaa Sebaaly, Soraya Saadallah, Karima Elkeurti, Vianna Qadoura, Yenaal, Mayor Bruce Teague, Neuman Abuissa, Hanna Mohamed.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May, 5, 2026
(L to R) Na Li, Jessie Li, Mayor Bruce Teague, Abby Guo, Hui Wang.
(L to R) Helen Shen, Rongchun Guo, Mayor Bruce Teague, David Kramer.
Pride Month, June 2, 2026
Mayor Bruce Teague, Andy Owens.
Juneteenth National Freedom Day, June 16, 2026
Billie Townsend, Mayor Bruce Teague, Orville Townsend.
Disability and Fair Housing Training
The Office of Human Rights will host a free in-person training on “Disability and Fair Housing” from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Led by the City’s Human Rights Investigator, Kristin Watson, JD, the session will cover common issues people with disabilities face in finding housing and how to file a fair housing complaint with the office. To learn more and to register to attend, visit the Eventbrite page for this event.
Catch up on past programming
If you missed one of our past programs, you can view them on the City’s YouTube page. The most recent programs include:
The City Council approved the Human Rights Grant allocations for fiscal year 2026 at its May 19, 2026, formal meeting for the following organizations:
Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Eastern Iowa Chapter
Escucha Mi Voz Iowa
The Englert Civic Theatre
Great Plains Action Society
NAMI Johnson County
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County
Wright House of Fashion.
Congratulations to all the selected organizations! To learn more about the grant and the funded projects, visit the office’s website.
Volunteer to serve on the Human Rights Commission
Volunteer to serve on the Human Rights Commission. Appointments are for two years. The Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Commission educates the community on human rights, plans programs and activities, and makes recommendations to the City Council on which organizations should be funded by the Human Rights Grant. Visit the Commission’s page to learn more. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in Iowa City. To apply, visit the Boards, Commissions, and Committee Application page.
Questions or accommodations requests
If you have questions or need disability-related accommodations to participate in any of our programs, contact the office at 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
Sign-up to receive human rights news and event information straight to your inbox. Visit icgov.org/e-subscriptions and select Human Rights. Follow us on Instagram @ichumanrights
